News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-02-10
THE CAUSE.

While the first days hearing did
not shed any direct light upon the
cause of the disaster, it is thought
that it will be decided upon eventu-
ally that a journal on the rear car, the
Puritan, broke at a point about 20
rods from the bridge, or at the 18th
rail, which was broken into several
pieces, and after tearing along struck
the heavy beams of the bridge and
was thrown off, pulling the other cars
after it. This will explain how the
other cars kept the track and why the
last car pulled over the others Had
there been a broken rail to begin with,
the engine, or certainly some of the
forward cars would have been thrown
instead of the last.
NOBLE WORK OF POSTAL CLERK PERKINS
A THRILLING NARRATIVE.
Mr.. Moses Perkins, clerk of the
postal car and proprietor of Perkins
hotel at Epping, N. H, told the fol-
lowing story:
1.-The first thing 1 knew 1 felt a
sudden jerk, as though we had struck
something. 1 ran to the door and
said: my God, the cars have gone
into the river. Get ready, Arming-
ton and go with me to the rescue
took the axe and crow-bar and made
all possible haste back across the
bridge, and down the embankment of
the river to the wreck. The condi-
ton Of affairs there was beyond the
power of mind to adequately portray.
The piteous cries of the wounded and
helpless were heart rending, and when
the flames burst out and enveloped
the cars, the scene was appalling. 1t
would not do to be fear-stalked, so
set to work relieving the imprisoned
passengers. l had to work alone.
The first person / found was our
brakeman, Ed. Banks, of West Leb-
anon. He said: Where are we?' /
said Il don't know. Let US get out
some of the men who are in these
cars They were shrieking and call
ing for help. [ went to the second
sleeper in answer to calls there for
help, and / found a man who had
managed to extricate himself from
that portion of the wreck, dressed
only in his shirt and drawers. The
car was in flames and he was trying
to pull out gentleman and his wife.
We succeeded in rescuing them and
laid them out upon the snow. This
gentleman and myself were the only
ones there at the time, as none of the
villagers had reached the scene. The
| only ones who were on the train and
did not fall from the bridge were my
self, my partner Arlington, Baggage
master Cole, of Pennacook, Express
man Robbins, the engineer and fire.
man, a man by the name of Prue,
and one other whose name / do not
recall. After we had carefully placed
this gentleman and his wife in the
snow, the voice of a girl inside the
car attracted my attention, asking il
l could not help her. | said L would
try. | reached in and caught hold OF
her, but could not move her. She said
she was pinned down by her night
dress, and if could give her knife
she thought she could release herself.
gave her knife and she cut the
| night.dress and | drew her out, but
found she could not stand. found
a blanket, wrapped her in it and LAID
her on the snow. / was then attrac.
| ted by the voice of an elderly gentle
man in the first coach, then on fire
calling for some one to save his broth.
er. | ran there with my axe, hewed
away until L found man lying flat
upon his stomach, piteously begging
to be helped out. L got him out be.
fore the flames reached that end and
laid him on the snow. He was after.
ward taken to Payne's house, where
he died. By that time the heat from
the burning bridge drove me away
and 1 went to the second sleeper
Here tried to get out man who
was wedged in. l succeeded and put
him on the snow, but have no further
knowledge of him. / then went to